Organizers of the annual Burning Man music and arts festival have lifted the driving ban as the muddy roads in the Nevada desert have dried up enough to allow people to start leaving. The festival’s conclusion was marked by the torching of a giant effigy on Monday evening. However, due to heavy traffic, the festival has urged participants to consider staying longer if possible, as it was taking drivers around seven hours to travel a 5-mile route to the nearest paved road.
Getting off the festival site is just the beginning of the journey for the 72,000 attendees who traveled to the remote site. Even in normal years, traffic jams during the exodus can last for six to nine hours. This year, the situation was exacerbated by storms that turned the desert playa into a mud bath, resulting in vehicles being stranded since Sunday. Around an inch of precipitation flooded the area, leading to the closure of access to the festival until vehicles could safely pass.
Despite the challenging conditions, attendees have maintained high spirits. The Burning Man spirit of self-reliance and communal effort is evident as people share resources and support each other. Some frustration has started to set in as belongings get damp and may be ruined by mold. However, attendees remain resilient and view it as part of the adventure.
Amidst the festival’s conclusion and the challenges faced by attendees, authorities in Nevada are investigating a death at the site. The details regarding the incident have not been disclosed.
Overall, despite the weather conditions, Burning Man festival attendees continue to embody the values of the event and support one another through the challenging exodus process.